Starting-clutch.



` PATENTED MAR. 3l, 1908. J. I'. WILKINSCN. STARTING CLUTCH.

`"/AIPLICATION FILED APB.. 19, 1907.

3 SHEETS-SHEET. 2.

/T 7 cess es No. 883,266. PATENTED MAR. 3l, 1908.

, J. F. WILKINSON.

STARTING CLUTCH.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 19, 1907.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

V La .f8 0| i,

.| fig 3 X6 J7 f6 JOHN r. WILKINSON, OE GLOUCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS.

STARTING-CLUTCH.

l Specification of Letters Patent. I

Patented March 3 1, 1908.

, Application led April 1'9, 1907. Serial No. 369,093.

To allwhom it may concern: Be it known that I, JOHN F. WILKINSON, of Gloucester, in the county of Essex and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Starting-Clutches, of which the followingis aspeciication.

The resent invention relates to clutch mechanisms for starting rotating parts -from a osition of rest by means of a crank or armthe right direction, and to render the clutching action more positive and readily thrown into operation than in prior devices of this character.

' Of the accompanying drawinvs,-Figure 1 represents an elevation, partly broken away, of the essential elements of my invention, showing them in their'disengaged inoperative position. Fig. 2 represents the same parts but in a different position, being here in the opposite limit of their possible movement. Figs. 3 and 4 represent detail perspective views of arts of the clutch mechanism. Figs. 5 an 6 represent res ectively a plan view and a vertical section O part of an automobile, showing the device constituting my invention'apphed to start the motor thereof. Fig. 7 represents a sectional plan view on an enlarged scale, of the complete mechanism adapted for starting a motor arpin.

ranged as in Figs. 5 and 6. Fig. 8 represents an elevation similar to Fig. 1, showing a modiication of the clutch adapted to drive in either direction. Fig. 9 represents a cross section on line 9 9. of Fig. 8. Fig. 10 represents a detail elevation ofA one end of the clutch actuator, showing the adjustable stop Fig. 11 represents a perspective view of the adjustable stop in.

The same reference c aracters indicate the same parts in all the figures.

The essential features of. mymventlon are two cooperating clutch members 1 and 2 of which the former is a disk mounted to rotate and having in one of its lateral faces .an annular groove 3 into which the com lemental member 2 of the clutch projects. he latter member is the integral headof a stud 4, such head being contained in` the groove 3 between the inner and outer concentric faces 5 and 6.

The member 2 as shown is eccentric at oposite ends of an axis. That is, it has rotuerances on opposite sides, so that it is onger in one dimension than in the dimension at right angles, the shorter dimension being less than the distance between the faces 5 and 6, while the longer dimension is greater than this distance. Accordingly the turning of thehead 2 about its axis causes its eccentric ortions to be crowded against the opposite Faces of the annular groove and to bind against them so that movement of one member bodily will carry the other with it.

The shank 4 upon which the head 2 is formed is journaled in a holder or plate 7 which is capable of turning rotarily independently of the member or disk 1: The end of the Shank which projects from the side of the holder Opposite to the member 1 is noncircular, being preferably hexagonal as represented at 8 in Fig. 4, or of any .convenient sha e. It its in a correspondingly shaped soc et 9 in an arm 10 by which it is operated. A cotter pin 1 1 passing through a hole 12 and bearing against a washer 13 holds the stud in the arm. A )in 14 on the end of the latter rojects throu a slot 15 in the plate 7 and imits theosci latory movement of the arm and stud relatively to the plate. If a stress is a plied to the free end of arm 10 it causes theliatter to oscillate about the center of the stud 4 and turn the head thereof sufficiently to bind against the walls 5 and 6 of the groove 3, whereby further movement of the arm causes the disk v1 to be moved also.

In order to operate the clutch, I provide an arm 16 keyed to a rock-shaft 171 and connected pivotally at its end with a link 17 which is also pivoted to the end of arm 10. A `spring 1.8 connected with the crank arm 16 and any suitable stationary abutment, draws the arm toward the disk 1 and presses against the arm 10 in such a way as to free the clutch member 2 from engagement with the shaft 19.

l l n.

. tial feature of the 'venti I .thus abutting. the parts .are all/heldin* per 'l 'ment 'of-.they 'parts-liu" derithewnfl,ence-of 'Spring'. 18;, bey/@11d 'F' 1, '..S*PreVe11,tedf

l hrites Sande. 'Aegir-iva in 'the rawngg,

the arm "1is curved so as partially'to enf circle the`v hubfof the disk.liendflh'haft 19 to which the latter is keyed,l 'whil'efthe link 17 passes on theop ositefsideof thefshaft and is ent so as to 'fc ear that end ofthe arm in and link 17 together vcompletel` which the pin'14 is set. Thus the 101 n y 4 v V"niall'y',fwhen' 't e' clutch members are disy `engaged,thepin rests against the rear end of n .g the slot Iso that any movementof the hand l lYer, eventhe'shortest, will throw the clutch I' -men'nbei-s linto',engagement and turn the flywheel 4through a certain angle.

'At 31 .issho'wn a member of the vehicle yframefagainst which the arm 16 is adapted )to abut'when. moved through its full stroke.. This limits the stroke before the clutch arm v10 has'l been vmoved far enough to bring the f n v. f pivot 21 into line with the stud 4 and pin 20. clutchfand set the` Itis, ,to be vinde ever, kthat this arr ngement in inleg-illustratedembodiment i of convenience ,and v`co'mpa'ctn'e ,the'pesitin shown Opfftfthe disk 1v in motiomjthef rock-shaft is turnedby.

In orderfto .meansiihereinafter 'described,fy op jositicn tothe tension of spring 18, pullin'g't' le pivot 20 downward and to the right, and lthereby exerting va ull on the pin 21 which connects link 17 an( arm10 together so as to swing the latterarm and .clamp the clutch/head 2 against the faces 5 and 6. The parts are so arran ed when in the position of rest illustratecf in Fig. 1 that the pull exerted through link 17 when the rock-shaft and arm are actuated, will be in a direction below the line joining pin 21 with shaft 4, so that the disk will always be driven in the desired direction.

The clutch member which consists of the disk 1 may be any suitable rotating part of a machine or motor, and is illustrated in the present case as the fly-wheel of an internal explosion engine for an automobile. The shaft 19 is the main shaft ofthe motor and is set in operation tostartlthe motor when the clutch members are engaged and moved. For thus connecting and driving the clutch I provide a lever 22 having an arm 23 to which is connected a foot piece 24. This arm is secured to a rock-shaft 25 l`which is turned by oscillation of the arm, and is con-- nected so as to turn the rock-shaft 171 above described. In some cases where the driven shaft 19 can be arranged parallel with the axis of oscillation of the lever 22, the rock- -shafts 171 and 25 may be identical, butin the vengine started. The motor may also be` started by hand from a position outside of the vehicle. 4The hand-starting device con sists of a'crank 28 mounted upon the shaft 25 4upon which itis held by' a pm 29 entering aslotlSO fin vthefhub of the crank arm. This slot isfof sluflicielnt'width to permit actuation rofQthef-fo'ot'lever throughits whole stroke withoutovin the hand crank. But nor- 'It is .necessary `that the pin 21 be below this -line in .order that thespring in contracting may return `th'e parts in the opposite direcmem er lbysuccessive back and forth oscillations of a manually-operated driver, which is always arranged so that the operator may exert his entire strength in the most effective manner. By moving either operating' arm, he can bring the motor to the point where the highest compression is about to take place, and then exert his whole strength to carry the motor through the conclusion of the compression stroke and past the dead point. There is no necessity of applying force in an inconvenient or uncomfortable position, as is the case where a motor is started by continuous rotation of a crank.

It frequently happens that in running an internal combustion motor the spark is advanced so as to explode the mixture before the end of the compression stroke. This produces no ill effect as long as the engine is running and the iiy-wheel has a large momentum, but if the spark is thus advanced while the motor is being started from a position of rest, it causes the engine to be driven reversely. This is due to the fact that it is impossible to put sufficient energy into the fly-wheel when starting the same manually to ,carry it by the dead-center if an explosion takes place before this point is" reached. is therefore important that the time of producing the spark should be deferred before the operator starts themotor. It frequently happenshowever7 that the operator forgets to change the position of the spark after the engine has been stopped and before startingit again. When this happens a for lthe reason that the clutch is so con-y structed as to be automatically disconnected when the disk or fly-wheel 1 is driven in the reverse direction by the motor. Of course a back iire of the motor will turn the disk in the opposite direction from that in which it that position and before the link 17 strikes the end of arm 10, the clutch becomes'automatically disengaged. This occurs While pressure is applied through the arm` 16, link 17 and arm 10 in the direction which would 'tend to bind the clutch head against the `walls of the disk groove, and is due to the fact that the pivots 20 and 21 and the axis of stud 4 are so nearly in line that there will bean extremely short effective' lever arm tending to turn the member 2, and conse- Aquently the friction-causing pressure is almost Sor quite nothing. Thus as there is nothing to bind the lends of the clutch member 2 against the faces 5 and 6 of the disk, the latter is free to rotate and is not retarded by the clutch member. In other words, the clutch becomes automatically disengaged.

It is to be understood that the clutch forming the subject of this invention is not limited in its application to starting automobile motors, but may form part of any other mechanical motion, and that it may be desirable to employ it for driving a member in either of two directions. Accordingly for this purpose I construct certain of the vparts in the modified form shown in Figs. 8

to r11 inclusive. Inthese figures it is to be noted firstthat the secondary or complemental clutchmember 2 instead of having two eccentric' protuberances on opposite ends of 4a diameter, is provided with four such protuberances arranged in pairs, the llmembers of which :are diametrically or I diagonally `opposite to each other.

Thus a,

'y and'y b represent theA shoulders Sor protuber- :.ances- Which'correspond to those shown in Figs. 1 `and `2, forI driving the primary memf be'rll'` of' `the `clutch in left-hand rotation,

while c and l `representasecond pair of tshoulders for driving it reversely.-v lt is to be Linoted thatthe shoulders a, and c,-as also the, a linner shoulderiof lthe former shown in Figs. 1

- of the actuator.

and 2, are active engaging parts the outer projections b and d being simply provided to press against the outer surface 6 and causek `the inner shoulders a and c to bind against the inner surface, this being for the purpose of relieving the pivotal shank 4 of the clutch member from frictional resistance.

It will be observed that the active clutching shoulders a and c are on opposite sides of a plane containing the axis of the shank 4 and extending transversely of the groove 3. On account of this `arrangement, whenever the actuator arm 10 is oscillated in left-hand rotation, the shoulder a. is forced against surface 5 and the primary member caused to turn anti-clockwise. On the other hand, when the actuator is turned to the right, the shoulder c is engaged with the surface 5 and the 1primary member is reversed. A

T e pin 14 takes a necessary part in governing the manner of engagement of the clutch members. Referring to Fig. 1, it will be seen that when the pin is arranged as there shown, it is caused t0 engage with the lefthand end of slot 15 as soon as the spring 18 is allowed to act, and immediately after the protube'rances of the clutch member 2 have been released from the primary member. Then the` pin serves as an abutment or stop to limit the further rotation of the actuator arm, maintaining the latter rigid withy the carrier plate 7 so that lthe pull due to thev spring 18'is caused t0 rotate this plate.V re versely to the motion given to the primary; member by the previous driving oscillation?r If on the other hand the pin 14 were located so as to engage with the right-hand end of the slot, it Would not permit the clutch members to engage'when the actuator is turned in left-hand rotation.

In Figs. 8 to 11 the pin 14 is shown as adjustable, being mounted eccentrically u on a stud 35 which is journaled in the end o arm l() and has attached rigidly to it a thumbnut 36. By turning the stud 35 through a half revolution, the in 14 can be caused t0 lie either near the Ifett-hand or the righthand side of the slot. In Fig. 8 it is at the right-hand side. Therefore Vwhen force is applied to the actuator to move it to the left, the pin holds theclutch member 2 in the neutral position shown and causes it to travel bodily in the groove 3 without engaging or actuating the driving member 1. Upon the forward force being removed and the spring 18 allowed to act, the actuator arm before being moved bodily is first turned upon'its axis in right-hand rotation, and the shoulders c and d thereby crowded against the surfaces 5 and 6 respectively, so that the disk will bedrivenf during the return movement of the member 2. Thus by suitably ref versing the pin `14",the1clutch may be caused to drive the member 1 in `either direct-ion.

Thedetai'ls of the pin are shown in Figs. 9

against a plate 40 extending across the inner side of the slot 15 and bearing against the surface of the carrier plate 7. The s ring will compress sufficiently to permit o the pin being withdrawn, from the slot, and will return it and hold it in the slot again after it has been turned.

l. claim 1. A clutch vmechanism comprising a rotary member having an annular groove in a lateral face thereof, a stud having an eccentric head located in said groove, an arm su ported so as to be movable bodily about t e axis of said member by which said stud is carried non-rotatably, and driving me'ans so engaged with the arm as to move the same both oscillatively and bodily to crowd the Ihead of said stud between the walls of the v groove and turn the said member.

2. A clutch mechanism coin rising two members, one of which is provi ed with inner and outer concentric surfaces, and the other comprising a stud having an integral head of greater length than width located between said surfaces, said stud being mounted with capability of oscillating about a center within its own eriphery, whereby the head thereof may e caused to bind against the said surfaces.

3. A clutch com rising a disk having concentric inner an outer faces, a holder mounted to oscillate concentrically with and relatively to said disk, a stud pivotally mounted in said holder and having a rigid elongated head entering the s ace between said faces, and an arm to whic said stud is rigidly secured, adapted to swing the stud so as to bind the elongated head thereof against said faces and thereafter to rotate the disk.

\ 4. A clutch com rising a disk having concentric inner anc outer faces, a holder mounted to oscillate concentrically with and `relatively to said disk, a stud pivotally mounted in said holder and having a rigid elongated head enterin the space between said faces, an arm to w ich said stud is rigidly secured, whereby an oscillatory motion of said arm will canje the said head to bind against said concentric faces, an operating member, and a link connecting said operating member with said arm for moving the latter angularly and bodily to connect the clutch members and drive the disk.

5. A clutch comprising a disk havin a groove, an elongated clutch dog arrange in said groove, a holder in which said dog is piv- On the end of this proj ection otally mounted, an arm rigidly connected with said dog ada ted to oscillate the saine and thereby cause its end to bind against the walls of the groove, an actuator, and a link pivoted to said arm and actuator, for driving the former from the latter, the arts being movable to bring the pivots o the link substantially in line with and on o posite sides of the ivotal axis of the clutch og.

6. A clutc comprising a disk having inner and outer concentric faces, an elongated clutch dog pivotally arranged between the faces of said disk, and an arm connected with said dog so as to oscillate and bring its ends into frictional, engagement with said faces, said disk being automatically disengageable from the clutch dog when driven reversely.

7. A clutch comprising a disk having inner and outer concentric faces, an elongated clutch dog pivotally arranged between the faces of said disk, an arm connected with said dog so as to oscillate and bring its ends into frictional engagement with said faces, and operating connections for said arm arranged to swing the arm so as to cause engagement of the clutch dog and then move the same bodily to rotate the disk, .said clutch dog being automatically disengaged during a rel verse driving movement of the disk when its axis of oscillation approaches the line of draft of said o erating connections.

8. A c utch comprising a disk having inner and outer concentric faces, an elongated clutch dog ivotally arranged between the faces of said) disk, an arm connected with said dog so as to oscillate and bring its endsy into frictional engagement with said faces,

and a connecting link pivoted to said arm arranged to exert a pull in a line at one side of the point of attachment of the lever to the dog, whereby the latter is oscillated and then moved bodily to drive the disk, said dog being disengaged upon a reverse driving of the disk* by external means when such point of attachment approaches said line of pull.

9. A clutch comprising a disk having inner and outer concentric faces, an elongated clutch dog pivotally arranged between the faces of sai( disk, an arm connected with said dog so as to oscillate and bring its ends into frictional engagement with said faces, a swinging operator, and a link pivoted to said operator and said arm arranged to act on a' into frictional engagement with said faces, a swinging operator, a link pivoted to said operator and arm, and yielding means acting on said operator to hold parts normally in position to be given a full-stroke movement.

11. A clutch comprisin r a disk having inner and outer concentric faces, an elongated clutch dog pivotally arranged between the faces of said disk, an arm connected with said dog so as to tilt the dog and bring its ends into frictional engagement with said faces, and a link connected to said arm for oscillating the same, said arm and link together when in normal stationary position, surrounding the axis of the disk. y

12. A clutch for starting internal combustion motors, consisting of a disk. secured to the shaft of the motor and having a groove, a clutch dog supported independently adjacent said disk and extending into said groove, arranged to turn about an axis within its periphery and engage frictionally the walls of said groove, and an actuator operated oscillatively by the operator of the motor for turning and engaging the dog successively at different oints with the disk and thereby `moving the atter. i

13. A clutch for starting internal combustion motors, consisting of a disk secured to the shaft of the motor and having a groove, a personally-o erated actuatorV adapted to be moved bo ilyA and oscillatively, and a friction dog supported adjacent the center'of oscillation of said actuatorso as to enter said groove and caused by the oscillations of said actuator to turn so as to bind frictionally against the walls of said disk and move the latter, whereby successive oscillations of the actuator are enabled to drive the disk continually in the same direction.

14. A clutch for starting internal combus tion motors, consisting of a disk secured to the shaft of the motor and having a groove, a clutch dog sup orted independently adjacent said disk an( extending into said groove arranged to engage frictionally the walls of said groove upon being oscillated, and an actuator operable oscillatively by the motor driver or attendant for engaging the dog successively at different points with the disk and thereby moving the latter, said dog being automatically disengaged by reversed motion of the disk due to back-iiring of the motor.

15. A clutch for starting internal combustion motors, consisting of a disk secured to the 4shaft of the motor, a complemental clutch member, an actuator movable oscillatively, arranged to engage said clutch member frictionally with the disk to drive the latter, 'and provisions whereby the.i fr iction-producing pressure is caused to diminish until tlie clutch member becomes disengaged from the disk when the latter is driven reversely by a back iire of the motor.

16. A clutch consisting of a primary member having engaging surfaces, a complemental member contained between said surfaces having eccentric )rotuberances, a carrier in which said com lemental member is oscillatively mounted), an actuator connected to said complemental member forA oscillating the same to engage said surfaces and moving the clutch members bodily, and stops on the carrier and actuator for limiting relative movement thereof, whereby the com )lemental member may be moved reversely independent of the primary member.

17. A clutch consistin r of a primary member having engaging sur aces, a coiiipleinental member contained between said surfaces having eccentric rotuberances, a carrier in which said com lemental member is oscillat-ively mounter an actuator connected to said complemental member for oscillating the same to engage said surfaces and moving the clutch members bodily, and stops on the carrier and actuator for limiting oscillation of the latter in the direction of disengagement of the clutch member, whereby said actuator is caused to turn the carrier and move the complemental clutch member reversely wh ile out of contact with the primary member.

18. `A clutch consisting of a primary mem ber having engaging surfaces, a complemental member contained between said surfaces havin a plurality of eccentric protuberances on dierent sides of a plane passing through its axis of oscillation, of which dilcient ones are ada )ted to be alternately engaged with said su aces by movement in either direction from a neutral position, a carrier in which said coinpleinental member is oscillatively mounted, an actuator connected to said compleinental member for oscillating thesame to enga e said surfaces and moving the clutch mem ers bodily, and stops on the carrier and actuator for limiting the oscillative movement in one direction at the neutral position.

19. A clutch consisting of a primary inember having engaging surfaces, a complemental member contained between said surfaces havin a plurality of eccentric protuberances on di erent sides of a plane passing through its axis of oscillation, .of which different ones are ada ted to be alternately engaged with said sur aces by movement in either direction from a neutral position, a carrier in which said complemental member is oscillativcly mounted, an actuator connected to said compleniental member for oscillating the saine to engage said surfaces and moving the clutch members bodily, and stops on the carrier an'd actuator for limiting the oscillative move-- nient in one direction at the neutral position, said stops being adjustable to permit iiiovement of the coiiiplcmcntal member to either one of the engaging, or active, posi! ie .20. A clutch consisting of a rotary primary member provided with engaging surfaces, a

carrier mounted concentrically with said primary member, a complemental member plvotalyl supported and oscillatlve in ysaid carrier aving eccentric protuber'ances on different sides of a plane passing through its axis of oscillation, an actuator engaged with said complemental member so that oscillation thereof in either direction will bind one or another of the protuberances against a surface of the rimary member, whereby to turn the latter 1n either direction, a plurality of stop shoulders on the carrier, and a stop on said actuator between said shoulders, arranged to be arrested by one of them toprevent one of said protuberances being engaged with the primary member.

21. A clutch consisting of a rotary primary member provided with engaging surfaces, a carrier mounted concentrically with said primary member, a complemental member pivotally supported and oscillative in said carrier having eccentric protuberances on different sides of a plane passing through its axis of oscillation, an actuator engaged with said complemental member so that oscillation thereof1 in either direction willv bind one or another of the protuberances against a surface of the primary member, whereby to turn the latter in either direction, a plurality of sto shoulders on the carrier, and a stop on sai actuator between said shoulders, capa ble of adjustment so as to be arrested by either of the shoulders to prevent one, and permit another, of said protuberances being enga ed with the primary member, whereby the atter may be driven continuously in either direction.

22. A clutch comprising a rotary member having c lindrical concentric clutch surfaces, an oscil ative and bodily movable arm, a complemental clutch dog rigidly carried by said arm so as to project between said surfaces, and reciprocally moving driving means connected eccentrically with said arm for giving. the latter alternately opposite movements, whereby it is turned so as to engage the dog with, and release it from, said clutch surfaces and moved to give a step-by-step movement in onedirection to said rotary member.

AIn testimony whereof I have affixed my signature, in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN F. WILKINSON Witnesses:

A. C. RATIGAN, ARTHUR H. BROWNV 

